On August 21st, International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism honors the lives changed forever by acts of terrorism.
Victims of terrorism often feel neglected and forgotten when the aftermath of a terrorist attack fades. These victims struggle for their voices to be heard and their rights to be upheld. Many of them need financial, physical, and psychological help. Some of them lose loved ones. These terrorist attack victims frequently do not have the resources to recover fully.
Most terrorist attacks include political, ideological, or religious motivation. Some who commit these acts often feel they are victims of social injustice. They might also feel angry, alienated, or disenfranchised. No matter what the reason for terrorist attacks, many people suffer as a result.
To commemorate this day, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), together with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) will be screening a documentary that focuses on the victims and survivors of Boko Haram in Cameroon. The UNOCT/UNCCT and the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism will also host a photo exhibition and lecture.
In 2017, the United Nations General Assembly designated August 21 as the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. That year alone, nearly 75% of all terrorism-related deaths occurred in just five countries. These countries included Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalis, and Syria. The day was set aside to strengthen solidarity with terror victims in these countries and others.
The fourth commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism will take place this year on 20 August 2021. It occurs twenty years after the 9/11 attacks and during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected people around the world.
The theme of International Day is “Connections”, as victims have had to find creative ways to stay connected while being isolated from each other, from their families, friends, and communities during the pandemic. It is important for the international community to connect and stand in solidarity with victims, for Member States to connect to learn from each other and share good practices, ensuring that victims needs are met, and their rights upheld.
An online high-level event entitled ‘Surviving Terrorism: The Power of Connections’ will be held with the participation of the United Nations Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres and will features testimonies from victims of terrorism and closing remarks from Under-Secretary-General Mr. Vladimir Voronkov.
A short film “Surviving Terrorism: The Power of Connections” will be launched, which features testimonies of victims and survivors of terrorism from across the world reciting a collective ode and sharing why connections is important. This will be followed by an interactive webinar discussion featuring victims and victims’ associations to discuss the importance of connections and how to strengthen the rights and needs of victims.
This event is organised in collaboration with the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism.
Source: www.un.org
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